A Year of Gratitude – March 30, 2024

I snuggled with my gratitude on the couch early this morning. It was another windy, blustery morning here. After I finished my morning round of farm chores, I was ready to grab a hot cup of coffee and snuggle under the blankets on the couch in the old parlor room.

I knew that Penny Lane would join me and I was so glad when she did. She has a favorite spot on this couch and she knew that I would make room for her.  I always do.

While it was windy outside, we had sunshine streaming in the front windows of the farmhouse. That always makes the house feel cozy even when it isn’t so outside. When you add in a snuggling dog, the degree of coziness increases exponentially.

This morning, Penny Lane wanted to be covered up after she settled in. That’s not unusual for her. She does love to be snuggled under a blanket, especially if someone snuggles with her. She got comfortable, placed her head on my legs, and let out a big sigh.

Around the time the sigh ended, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. I listened as her breathing became rhythmic and slow. I watched as the blankets rose and fell with each deep breath.

I found myself filled to the brim with gratitude for that moment and the ones that followed. I closed my eyes and decided to follow her lead. I breathed in and out in time with her, listening to the sound of our collective breathing. I meditated while I did, concentrating on the image I conjure in my mind when I want to calm myself, when I want to give myself a few moments to reset my day and return to a more mindful state.

When I opened my eyes, Penny was looking at me. She was awake but had stayed completely still. She let out another sigh and curled up for another nap. I picked up my book and read for a bit.

When it was time to get up, I patted her on the head. She got up with me, stretched in the sunshine, and went to her post in front of the window. She got comfortable on her bed and lay down. It was time to monitor the squirrels as they went about their business outside the window.

It was time for me to start my sourdough bread baking for the day. As I did, I thought about how thankful I was to have spent time with her under the blankets in the sunshine. With any luck, I’ll get to do it all over again tomorrow morning.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.